How about infinite focus for you dSLR landscapes??

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Lin Evans
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun May 16, 2004 11:01 pm
Location: Berthoud, Colorado

How about infinite focus for you dSLR landscapes??

Post by Lin Evans »

I realize this is a macro/micro site, but the recent discussion about using various software to enhance depth of field by combining multiple frames of slightly different focus led me to this:

Hyperfocal landscapes are common with large format cameras, but dSLR shooters have had a tougher time of it for a variety of reasons.

I've found what I think is an ideal solution for me at least. The recent heavy rains in California have presented a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to shoot a virtual sea of wildflowers against the rugged landscapes of Death Valley. This potential got me to thinking about ways to enhance depth of field. We've always had software such as CombineZ, Helicon Focus and others which help do this with photomicroscopy. A few months ago I found I could use these techniques to greatly improve my macro depth of field for small art objects, but until now I've not found software which could really do this for landscapes.

The new version of Helicon Focus has an incredible ability to register different frames and correct for the normal size differentials. I decided to give it a try with the aim of producing an infinite focus landscape. A quick trip to the front yard with my Canon 1DS, Sigma 15-30 zoom and an old Nikon on a tripod as a close-up subject has convinced me that this can not only be done, but can be done very well.

Below is the result of a four frame capture using different focal points. The Nikon on the tripod was about 14 inches in front of the lens, so this frame is essentially an infinite focus using Helicon Focus (about 15 seconds) to combine the four into what you see below. A pesky reflection on the LCD of the Nikon was cloned out and the image you see below was sharpened a bit in PhotoShop but otherwise it's as it came from the combining of the four frames. The four component shots and result are linked if you want to see them.

Below is a link to the Helicon site where they have a free 30 day trial if you want to try it for yourself...

Lin

http://heliconfocus.com/pages/?focus_overview

http://www.lin-evans.net/hyperfocal/hyp ... result.jpg
http://www.lin-evans.net/hyperfocal/1.jpg
http://www.lin-evans.net/hyperfocal/2.jpg
http://www.lin-evans.net/hyperfocal/3.jpg
http://www.lin-evans.net/hyperfocal/4.jpg

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